Mia Pedro

About the Author

My name is Emilia Pedro, but most people know me as Mia. I was born in Portugal and moved to the UK at a young age after my parents made the courageous decision to leave everything behind in search of a better future for my sister and me. With so much sacrificed, failure was never an option.

People often say I seem confident—but confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. Brick by brick, through experience, courage, and choosing to rise, even when it’s hard.

Movement has always been my second language. I wasn’t the “girly” type—I boxed, practiced taekwondo, and in 2007, became a world champion. I’ve worked on the doors and spent the last 16 years coaching as a personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, sports therapist, and mental health advocate.

Over the years, I’ve worked with sports teams, professional athletes, football players, bodybuilders, and also with children and adults with disabilities. I’ve specialised in coaching under-16s, over-50s, and population groups often overlooked or underserved in the fitness industry. My mission has always been to help those who needed support the most—where help wasn’t always easy to find.

Dance entered my life unexpectedly when my daughter started ballet. Wanting to support her, I took a ZumbaŽ instructor course in 2019. I never imagined it would open the door to an entirely new chapter.

Since then, ZumbaŽ has taken me around the world—teaching, performing, and helping others move, heal, and reconnect with themselves through community and rhythm.